Ai Ai returns with Mother’s Day big screen comedy

Comedy Queen Ms. Ai Ai delas Alas is hoping that her latest movie “Our Mighty Yaya,” written and directed by Jose Javier Reyes, will be a box-office hit. But not only that, she also wants to impart the good message that the movie has: to love our mothers, not only our biological mothers, but also the people who served as our second mothers like yayas or kasambahays whom Ai Ai treats as family.

“Since the movie is for Mother’s Day, gusto ko mag-focus din tayo sa ibang nanay. Hindi naman kailangan lahat ng nanay eh biological. Meron din tayong mga kasambahay na naging nanay natin sa buhay natin noong ang ating biological parents or mother ay busy para mag-work para sa atin,” said the award-winning actress who’s excited to be doing a comedy film again.

Was it her decision to play a yaya in this film to veer away from her famous character Yna in the “Ang Tanging Ina” franchise?

“Hindi naman kasi iba’t-ibang klaseng nanay naman ito. Si Direk Joey, gusto niya bigyan ng tribute yung mga yaya kasi mayroon siyang isang kasambahay na ipinahanap siya. Very heartwarming ang pagtatagpo nila kasi yung yaya niya eh malapit nang mamatay,” she related.

How did she prepare for her role as Virgie, the Mighty Yaya?

“Marami naman akong naging yaya. Yung ibang characteristic nila kinuha ko, so marami akong naging peg,” said the “Sunday Pinasaya” cast member. Co-starring with her in the movie are Megan Young, Zoren Legaspi, Sofia Andres, Lucas Magallano, Alyson McBride and Beverly Salviejo.

Ai Ai’s kids grew up under the care of a yaya and she admitted there was a time she felt somewhat jealous.

“Pakiramdam ko mas close na sila sa yaya, hindi na sa akin, lalo na dun sa bunso kong anak,” said the newly --engaged Ai Ai. “Pero I knew how to put her in place. Pag parang nagmamarunong na, I tell her ako muna kasi ako ang nanay. Tatahimik naman.”

She describes herself as both as a spoiler and a strict mom. “Since I am a single mom, what I lack in time, I try to make up to it by spoiling them. But I am also a disciplinarian. Namamalo rin ako, either tsinelas o sinturon. Hindi ako namamalo ng kamay kasi ang kamay pang-caress, pang-love. When they were already teenagers, I just talk to them. Yung babae, (Sofia) minsan matigas ang ulo pero humanda siya sa akin,” Ai Ai said with a laugh.

What is the hardest part of being a mother?

“‘Yung kailangan nila ang time mo  pero nagtratrabaho ka. Hindi mo maiwan ang trabaho mo kasi kailangan mong tapusin pero mas gusto mo sana kasama ang anak mo. Yun ang nakakaiyak talaga.”

How did she handle that?

“Modesty aside, nung wala pa akong masyadong pangalan, pumupunta ako sa school hanggang kaya ko. Kahit natutulog ako, nagpapagising ako sa yaya. Kunwari may sayaw o program na kasali anak ko, pumupunta ako. Gigisingin ako ng yaya pag- turn na nila. Tapos manonood ako na half asleep, half awake. Yung mga anak ko, ang saya naman,” she recalled.

But that must have been a big sacrifice on her part.

“Sakripisyo yun. Malaking sakripisyo. Pero malaking bagay sa mga anak yun at natatandaan nila iyon. Pag hindi ka nakarating malaking issue sa kanila iyon. Kaya dapat nandoon ka sa lahat ng importanteng bagay sa buhay nila. Kahit na walang kwenta-kwentang sayaw, dapat nandun ka kasi para sa kanila binigyan mo sila ng time. Hindi ibig sabihin na busy ka mommy, alam namin iyon nagtratrabaho ka. Pero dumating din yung time na nung medyo malaki na sila, sila na ang dumadalaw sa akin. Halimbawa, hindi nila ako nakikita, mga three days na, dinadalaw nila ako sa set. Yun ang family day namin.”

What would Ai Ai say is her greatest achievement?

“My children are my greatest achievements. Being a mother is the best thing that happened to me. Not even my best actress trophies can compare to my achievement as a mother. Being a mother is what I am good at.”